We deliver your New Street pleas

NOW you must listen - that's the message Rail Minister Tom Harris received loud and clear when he was presented with the massive response from Birmingham Mail readers calling for New Street Station to be revamped.

NOW you must listen - that's the message Rail Minister Tom Harris received loud and clear when he was presented with the massive response from Birmingham Mail readers calling for New Street Station to be revamped.

A high-powered delegation travelled to London on a Virgin Pendolino Train - taking the message from Birmingham to the halls of power at Westminster.

In just two weeks more than 7,000 people backed the Mail's campaign urging ministers to 'Wake up to the State of New Street'.

Today ballot boxes stuffed with postcards filled in by commuters, letters, emails and petitions cut out or photocopied from the Mail were taken to the House of Commons.

There, Mail editor Steve Dyson, together with a delegation including Birmingham Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart, Centro-PTA Chairman Coun Gary Clarke, Birmingham City Council deputy leader Paul Tilsley and Advantage West Midlands chairman Nick Paul handed them over to the Rail Minister. The campaign, organised by the Mail, BBC Radio WM and Birmingham City Council is calling for #600 million revamp plans to go ahead.

The government is set to reach a make-or-break decision this December on whether #136 million from the Local Transport Plan could be committed to the scheme.

Coun Clarke said: "It is absolutely amazing and really shows the cross-party support from Members of Parliament to get New Street sorted out."

Birmingham Hall Green Labour MP Steve McCabe said: "It shows that the time has come and it is really important that everybody realises we are all on board and that all of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands has signed up to get this sorted out."

Gisela Stuart added: "Birmingham is united across all political parties and other groups that New Street Station must be tackled.

"This incredible response will show to the government that they need to take action."

And Northfield MP Richard Burden said: "The Birmingham Mail's campaign has been absolutely brilliant and shows that it is not just a bunch of politicians in Westminster but the whole of Birmingham and the West Midlands which is united to campaign for a better New Street."

Nick Paul said: "The improved New Street would enable a 50 per cent greater usage over the next 20 years and it would greatly enhance the regeneration of the area, creating 3,000 jobs and contributing an estimated #1.2 billion to the West Midland economy.

"It is a win-win situation and that is why Advantage West Midlands is prepared to contribute up to #100 million towards the redevelopment scheme."

Rail minister Tom Harris issued a statement to the Mail today to say: "We have always said that something needs to be done at New Street.

"We are listening to people's views and currently considering the proposals to us by Network Rail and Birmingham City Council and expect to make a decision next summer. There's a lot of hard work still to do."